Why can’t residents have a say at council?
WEST Lancashire independent group, Our West Lancashire (OWL), has accused the borough council of shutting out residents from asking questions at full council meetings.
The group said that a move to reject the scrutiny committee at a full council meeting on Wednesday last week, where a report paper from the Labourrun council was for up for consideration, leaves West Lancashire as the only Lancashire borough not to allow public questions at full council meetings.
Blair Piggin, a local resident and Scott ward activist for OWL, said: “Every other Lancashire borough allows the public to ask questions of their elected representatives at full council meetings.
“It’s shameful that this council wants to prevent residents in West Lancashire having the same opportunity.
“The council might point to the chance to ask questions at cabinet or committees, but the rules are restrictive.
“The fact remains that this council stands out like a sore thumb in Lancashire for its lack of open government.
“What is the council afraid of? A confident council would welcome the interest shown by its taxpayers.”
OWL councillor Adrian
Owens, who sat on the scrutiny committee that recommended the council allow public questions at council meetings, said: “Residents pay the allowances of councillors who are supposed to be public servants.
“Question time at full council meetings can easily be accommodated at negligible cost and Our West Lancashire will continue to campaign to give residents a greater voice.”
But West Lancashire Labour dismissed the call.
In a statement released last Wednesday, the group responded: “Our West Lancashire has decided to attack this policy and claim it is restrictive, despite their own councillor being a part of the cross-party decision making which approved the report. Our West Lancashire have dug themselves an embarrassing hole this week, as they attempt to blame Labour for restricting democracy.
“The facts are that West Lancashire Labour have brought the borough council a significant way forward since taking control in 2015, in terms of transparency and communication with residents.
“Back under Cllr Adrian Owens and Conservative rule, resident engagement was stifled by the Tories.
“Under Labour, public speaking at council meetings has been extended by 500% through the extension of public speaking, from just planning committee to five additional bodies of the council, including cabinet and overview and scrutiny committees, where key decision-making is made.”
Up Holland ward councillor Ian Moran said: “My message to OWL is enough of the petty party politics – we are here to serve residents, so let’s get on with that, rather than making petty attacks on the very party that is extending public engagement and transparency at the borough council.”